Rias Gremory sat in her office, sinking into a soft chair. There was a stack of papers in front of her, but her gaze slid over them absentmindedly, not catching on to the lines. Her thoughts were swirling around the recent events, and the papers were just decoration. She put them aside, exhaling heavily. Her chest tightened from the memories of the Rating Game. Defeat. Humiliating, bitter. Yes, Riser Phenex had given up on his own, but that did not soften the blow to her pride. And then - the conversation with her brother. Sirzechs' words clearly hit harder and more painfully, from which her heart still bled.
She tried to distract herself. The anime and manga that had always helped her hide from the world and find her refuge in them were no longer helping. Every word Sirzechs said echoed in her head, making her doubt herself. Rias had always been stubborn, ready to deny everything that contradicted her beliefs. But now… Why did his words ring truer than her own excuses? She frowned, clenching her fists. The realization came like a cold shower: her life had to change. No more defeats. No more helplessness. Her pride, trampled in the mud, demanded to be returned.
At that moment, her gaze fell on the cardboard box in the corner. It was shaking slightly.
Gasper.
Rias sighed tiredly. How much effort had she spent to drag him out of the room? The boy clung to his hiding place like a life preserver, but Rias was persistent. Gasper was slowly becoming part of their group now, although his timidity was still annoying. She thought about training. She hadn't slowed down since returning, but perhaps it was time to increase the intensity.
Gravity chamber?
They used it, but not as much as Koneko. Maybe we should adjust our approach: more magic for Akeno, more physical exercise for Kiba, balance for everyone. Rias tapped her finger on the table, mentally formulating a plan.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The door creaked and Akeno, her queen, entered the office. She held a tray of tea and cookies in her hands. Her lips curved into her usual playful smile.
"Ara-ara, Rias, why are you so serious? It all worked out, didn't it? Fufufu," she sang, but her voice wavered as she met Rias's stern gaze.
The mischievous glint in Akeno's eyes faded. She looked down, her expression turning guilty. Rias knew that Akeno was suffering the same pain. In the Rating Game, she was one of the first to be eliminated without having brought any benefit. For Akeno, who had been saved and accepted by Rias, this was unbearable. She got a recording of the game from Rias and watched it over and over again, reliving her failure every time. But instead of opening up, Akeno forced a smile, placed the tray on the table, and walked around Rias, massaging her shoulders.
Rias relaxed slightly under the skillful fingers, but then Akeno, with a mischievous smile, slid her hands lower, squeezing her breasts. Rias gasped, her cheeks flushing.
"Akeno, stop it!" she cried out, pulling away. Expressing her displeasure at Akeno's actions. What was she doing?
Akeno purred, leaning closer:
"What is it, Rias? Don't we like to have a little fun?"
Her voice was playful, but her eyes betrayed a slight sadness. Rias, blushing to the roots of her hair, snapped:
"That's in the past! Enough! It's time to end this... relationship."
Akeno raised her eyebrows, but her smile did not disappear.
"Ara-ara, Rias, but you wanted to know what a kiss was, didn't you? Fufufu," she teased. "Remember how everything spun around after that manga?"
Rias blushed even more. She remembered. Back then, in her youth, she had become curious. The manga showed scenes of kissing, as well as love and care. And, to be honest, Rias wanted to experience what it was like herself, but her parents were carefully watching her then, while Akeno was the closest. One evening, curiosity got the better of her, and they tried it. Kisses, light caresses, games that became their little secret. But now Rias had grown up. She wanted to be more serious, stronger. These games were no longer for her.
She stood up abruptly, forcing Akeno to retreat.
"Enough, Akeno! I've let you get away with too much. It's time to be stricter."
Akeno froze, her eyes widening. Then she smiled mischievously.
"Ara-ara, if my king wants to be strict, I'll obey. But, you know, this seriousness suits you."
Akeno was clearly slightly aroused by Rias's tone, all serious and proper, and an involuntary thought crossed her mind: how would Rias beg her in bed?
Her gaze slid to the box where Gasper was hiding. Akeno's eyes flashed a predatory glint, and she took a step towards it, intending to open the lid. But Rias's hand stopped her.
"Don't touch Gasper," she said firmly. "He barely got out of the room as it is. Don't scare him.
Akeno looked at her in surprise, her fingers brushing Rias's arm, but then she stepped back. Her voice became more serious.
"You've changed, Rias."
Rias opened her mouth to reply, but a knock on the door interrupted them. Sona Sitri entered the office, followed by her queen, Tsubaki Shinra. Sona adjusted her glasses, her gaze sliding over Rias and Akeno.
"Aren't you interrupting?" She asked, squinting. Looking at them, Sona clearly noticed their unnatural behavior. Did they have to be interrupted while they were on serious business?
Rias shook her head.
"No. Did you come on business?"
Sona frowned, her tone becoming slightly harsher.
"I can't just come? Although... you're right. I have business."
Tsubaki stepped forward, handing Rias a folder. Rias took it, took out some papers, and began to read. With each line, her face darkened. After finishing, she exhaled:
"Reinforcements?"
Sona nodded:
"Yes. Sairaorg Bael will be arriving soon. With him is Asia Argento, who will be studying with us. Sairaorg will be the temporary gym teacher."
Rias tapped her finger on the table, her eyebrows drawing together. Sairaorg. She had nothing against him, but his arrival... It was not without reason.
Is my brother really that doubtful of me? Wanting to remove me from running Kuoh City while preparing a replacement?
Her thoughts began to spin, and her chest tightened. She pursed her lips, feeling useless.
Again.
Sona, noticing her expression, frowned, but remained silent. She didn't pry into other people's business, but as a friend, she was willing to listen if Rias wanted to open up.
Sona's gaze fell on the box in the corner. It was shaking slightly. Her brows furrowed, but she didn't comment. Rias caught her gaze and tensed up. Gasper. Another worry. But right now, her thoughts were on Sairaorg, Asia, and the shadow of doubt cast by her brother. She had to prove herself worthy. And she had to start now.
Sona adjusted her glasses, her gaze slid over Rias, Akeno, and the shaking box in the corner. Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Have you solved his problem?" Sona asked, nodding at the box.
Rias moistened her lips slightly, feeling the tension in the room grow. She shook her head.
"Working on it. He still needs help."
Sona nodded, not going into details. She respected the boundaries of others' responsibilities - the care of their peerage was their kings' responsibility, and it was not her style to interfere. Instead, she changed the subject, her voice softening slightly.
"Want to unwind? Let's have a competitive match. Just for fun."
Rias was surprised. A competitive match? It was unexpected, but the idea sparked her interest. A competition could be a way to unite the team and test everyone's abilities. She nodded.
"Okay. I'm in."
Sona smiled, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses.
"Very well. We will prepare everything. All that is required of you is your presence," she said, and after exchanging a glance with Tsubaki, they left the office.
Akeno, who had been standing to the side the entire time, sipped her tea and finished the cookies on the tray. Rias, noticing this, felt a slight irritation - she wanted to drink tea herself! Her lips twitched and she snorted, heading to the dressing room to get her sports uniform. On the way, she sent a notification to her peerage through the magic circle, calling for everyone to gather.
Akeno, watching Rias's irritated expression, giggled softly but remained silent. After finishing her tea, she put the tray away and went to change. She soon came out wearing a dark purple sports uniform that accentuated her graceful figure. Sitting down in a chair, she took out her phone and began typing something, occasionally glancing at the door.
The first to enter the room was Yuto Kiba, his bright smile, as always, radiating warmth. He adjusted the collar of his sports uniform and wordlessly took the seat opposite Akeno, waiting for the others. Koneko Toujou appeared next, dressed in a light sports uniform, holding a pack of cookies in her hands. Seeing Kiba, she silently approached and, to Akeno's surprise, sat on his lap, continuing to crunch on the cookies.
"Would you like some?" Koneko asked quietly, holding out the pack.
Kiba was slightly surprised, but smiled and asked,
"You don't mind?"
Koneko nodded, and he took the cookie gratefully, slowly stroking her snow-white hair with his free hand. Koneko didn't mind, her eyes lazily following the crumbs as they fell to the floor.
Akeno, who was watching this scene, couldn't help but smile mischievously.
"Ara-ara, how close we are," she sang, narrowing her eyes. "Are you planning something? Fufufu, you don't need to hide it from your queen!"
Kiba and Koneko's faces flushed. Kiba cleared his throat, trying to save his face, "Nothing! We're just... close friends."
Koneko nodded sheepishly, but Akeno, covering her lips with her hand, laughed quietly, clearly not believing a word of it. Their flushed faces only added fuel to the fire of her mirth.
At that moment, Rias entered the hall, already wearing a scarlet sports uniform. Seeing Koneko on Kiba's lap and Akeno giggling, she rubbed her temples in irritation. Her gaze darted to Akeno, who, feeling it, stopped laughing, but demonstratively turned away with an innocent look.
"Enough, Akeno," Rias muttered, approaching Gasper's box, standing in the corner of the hall. She sat down next to him, her voice softening:
"Gasper, come out. We need to prepare for the match. You're part of the team, and I know you can do it."
A muffled voice came from the box:
"I... don't want to. There are too many people..."
Rias sighed, but her tone remained warm and soothing.
"Gasper, I believe in you. You've already taken a big step by leaving the room. One small match, and you'll become even stronger. We'll all be by your side."
After a short silence, the box shook and Gasper suddenly disappeared. A few seconds later, he reappeared in his gym clothes, with a paper bag over his head. Rias held back a smile, her lips twitching slightly. She exhaled and commanded.
"Follow me."
The team stood up and followed Rias, who walked confidently ahead. Along the way, they attracted curious glances from the students of Kuoh Academy. Whispers and glances accompanied them—the most popular figures of the school had gathered together, and this clearly promised something interesting. Some students, unable to contain their curiosity, decided to follow them.
They arrived at a spacious gym, usually used by the basketball club. Sona stood in the center, casually twirling the ball in her hand. She threw it into the hoop, and the ball flew into the net with precision, drawing surprised looks. Rias froze, her eyebrows raised. Basketball? She had expected anything - volleyball, tennis - but not this.
Sona, noticing them, walked over, holding the ball at her hip.
"Alright, your entire team is here," she said, her voice businesslike but with a slight spark of excitement. "We're playing basketball today. Without magic... almost."
Rias narrowed her eyes.
"Almost?"
Sona smiled mysteriously and pulled out a glass of cloudy liquid that gave off a sharp, almost nauseating smell. Rias paled, her gym uniform sticking to her back from sudden sweat.
"What... is this?" she breathed out, stepping back.
Sona's glasses flashed, and a sinister grin appeared on her face.
"A punishment," she replied. "Specially for this match. I didn't put much effort into preparing it."
Rias shuddered. Sona wasn't a great culinary talent on her best days, so what if she didn't try? The thought was unbearable. Rias was about to refuse, but then a hand was placed on her shoulder. She flinched and turned around, meeting Akeno's mischievous gaze.
"Ara-ara, would our king retreat because of some goo?" Akeno sang, her voice full of playful mockery. "You're not scared, are you?"
Rias was about to strangle Akeno and bury her somewhere in the school garden, since she clearly wasn't helping!
Sona stepped closer, her face frighteningly close to Rias's. Under their double pressure, Rias couldn't take it anymore:
"Okay, you've got me! I'm in!"
Sona clapped her hands, her smile widening.
"Wonderful! And one more thing: I prepared the judge so that everything would be fair.
At that moment, Grayfia Lucifuge appeared in the hall, wearing a strict sports uniform, her silver hair tied in a neat ponytail. Her appearance was so sudden that everyone froze and looked surprised. Rias, the most surprised of all, suddenly gasped:
"Grayfia?!"
"Yes, Rias-sama?" Grayfia answered calmly. "Did something happen?"
Rias pursed her lips, fighting the urge to object.
"Nothing," she finally muttered, slightly embarrassed by her piercing gaze.
"Okay then," Grayfia nodded. "Do your warm-ups. I'll announce the rules soon."
The teams went to different sides of the field. Rias and her peerage occupied one half, and Sona's team occupied the other. The spectators gathered in the stands eagerly awaited the start. The air was filled with tension mixed with excitement. Rias glanced at her team: Akeno was fixing her hair, Koneko was finishing her cookies, Kiba was smiling, and Gasper was nervously fiddling with the bag on his head. She took a deep breath.
We probably won't lose that badly, right?
***
Grayfia Lucifuge stood in the center of the basketball court, holding the ball with such a calm expression that it seemed as if she was refereeing not a school match, but a battle for the fate of the Underworld. Her voice, cold and commanding, cut through the noise of the crowd:
"There is no cheating. I am monitoring your every move. The watches on your wrists record your magic usage. Exceed the limit, and the consequences will be severe."
All the players, including Rias and Sona, involuntarily gulped. Black bracelets with red indicators glittered on their wrists - magical devices designed to control devilish energy. Grayfia blew her whistle and the teams took their positions.
Sona, as always calculating, chose a balanced lineup: herself, Tsubaki Shinra, Saji Genshirou and two girls from her peerage - Tomoe Meguri and Tsubasa Yura, known for their speed and durability. Rias didn't have to choose - her peerage was already tight: herself, Akeno, Yuto Kiba, Koneko and Gasper, who was still nervously fiddling with the paper bag on his head.
The warm-up went quickly, with the teams doing calisthenics, stretching their muscles under the curious gaze of the students filling the stands. Shouts of encouragement echoed throughout the hall, especially for Yuto Kiba, who was adored by the female half of the academy.
"Kiba! You're the best! Show them!" a group of girls shouted from the stands, waving makeshift signs.
"Yuto-sama, score for us!" another echoed.
Kiba, with his usual smile, waved to the crowd, causing another flurry of squeals. His blond hair glistened under the spotlight, and his confident smile only added fuel to the fire.
Across the field, Saji Genshiro clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white, his eyes filled with envy as he bored into Kiba.
Damn Ikemen! Why is everyone looking at him?
He thought, feeling anger boiling inside him. He glanced at Sona, but her face remained impassive. Tsubaki, standing next to him, was stealing glances at Kiba, which only made Saji angrier.
We're on the same team! Why is she staring at that blond guy?
Saji gritted his teeth, vowing to himself that he wouldn't let Kiba outshine him.
Ikemen must die!
Grayfia tossed the ball up, and the game began. Kiba and Saji both jumped towards the center at the same time. Saji, confident in his strength, gained a good height and was already anticipating how the ball would end up in his hands. In his mind's eye, he saw Sona nodding approvingly, and Tsubaki finally looking at him. But then Kiba's face appeared next to him, his smile not just friendly, but with a slight hint of mockery. Suddenly, Saji felt a sharp push to his side, knocking the wind out of him. He cringed, losing his momentum, and the ball flew towards Kiba.
"Sorry!" Kiba shouted, already rushing forward, while Saji, clutching his side, landed on the floor.
"What the hell?!" Saji barked, but Grayfia, casting him a cold look, did not even stop the game. Saji gritted his teeth, knowing that the referee was not on his side.
Rias, having picked up the ball from Kiba, decisively dribbled it across the field. Her eyes were shining, every knock of the ball echoed in her heart. Sona's team grouped together, blocking the paths. Sona herself went to intercept, her movements precise, like a chess player calculating her moves in advance. Koneko was cornered by Tsubasa, who did not let her take a single step. Akeno, on the other hand, stood with a slight smile, looking at Tomoe, her "guard".
"Ara-ara, my dear, you are so serious," Akeno sang, winking. "Don't you want to smile? Fufufu."
Tomoe glared at her in annoyance, but Akeno only laughed, her playfulness unnerving her opponent. Meanwhile, Gasper was trembling, not knowing what to do. No one cared about the timid boy with a bag on his head; he was more of a pity than a desire to block him.
Rias, seeing that her team was being pinned down, stopped abruptly. Sona was already a step away, ready to intercept the ball. But Rias, with a lightning-fast turn, threw the ball to Kiba, who quickly broke through the defense. Tsubaki immediately blocked his path, her movements precise and decisive. Kiba hissed, but then Saji appeared from behind, still seething with anger. He grabbed Kiba by the uniform, pulling him down, preventing him from moving.
"Hey, easy!" Kiba snapped, trying to break free.
Saji only tightened his grip on the fabric, but Kiba, noticing Akeno's signal - a slight movement of her eyebrows towards the field - abruptly threw the ball, seemingly into empty space. Akeno, like lightning, rushed forward, overtaking the stunned Tomoe. She picked up the ball and, finding herself in a perfect position, threw it at the hoop. The ball hit the hoop and bounced off.
"Ara-ara, what a shame," Akeno sighed with feigned sadness, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh well, better luck next time, fufufu."
Kiba, wasting no time, jumped towards the ball, still hanging in the air. He was about to score, but Saji, in a fit of desperation, grabbed his uniform again and pulled him down sharply. Kiba fell to the floor, the ball rolling away. Grayfia immediately whistled, her gaze stern.
"Foul!" she announced, pointing at Saji. "Two free throws for the Gremory team."
Saji froze, feeling sweat trickling down his forehead. Sona and Tsubaki looked at him with obvious displeasure. Kiba stood up, dusted himself off, and with a small smile made both free throws, hitting the hoop perfectly. The crowd exploded in applause.
The game continued at a frantic pace. The ball was passed from one team to the other, the players ran, sweated, collided. The score remained tied. Rias, Akeno, and Kiba were the main contributors to the attack, Koneko managed to score a couple of goals using her resilience and agility, and Gasper, to his relief, remained almost unnoticed, hiding behind his teammates, occasionally passing the ball to the team.
Time passed and the tension grew. No one wanted to lose, especially Rias, who shuddered at the thought of Sona's "punishment". She dribbled the ball, feeling her heart beat in unison with each hit of the ball. The voices of the crowd faded into the background. Suddenly, she felt light, as if her body had been released from its shackles. Her eyes flashed red sparks, a small red lightning flashed in her eyes, and she rushed forward with such speed that no one had time to react.
Sona, who was standing in her way, tried to intercept the ball, but Rias swerved around her in one motion. Tsubasa and Tomoe rushed to intercept her, but she passed through the defense like a whirlwind. Even Grayfia, who was watching the magic indicators, raised an eyebrow - Rias did not use a single drop of devilish energy or touki, only pure strength and will. The ball flew into the hoop with a loud clang, the net shook, and the hall froze in stunned silence.
Rias, breathing heavily, wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her eyes were still sparkling with red lightning, and she herself did not fully understand what had happened. Sona, having lost her balance, fell to the floor, her glasses slightly slipping. Tsubaki immediately jumped up, helping her up.
Grayfia's whistle announced the end of the match.
The stands exploded with applause. The students screamed, clapped, someone even chanted Rias' name.
The Gremory team breathed a sigh of relief, happy with their victory. Gasper, who never scored a single goal, was happy to remain unnoticed. Koneko, wiping away her sweat, looked pleased with her two goals. Akeno, as always, was beaming with a smile, and Kiba, despite his shabby uniform, still had his charm.
Sona, having recovered, walked up to Rias, her face expressing a mixture of respect and slight shock.
"A great game," she said, adjusting her glasses. "It was... fun."
Rias, still breathing heavily, replied with a slight smile, "Yes, that's right."
But then her gaze turned mischievous, almost sadistic. Sona couldn't help but tense up, sensing something was wrong. Rias, not letting her back down, grabbed her hand.
"You said something about a drink, right?" She sang, taking out a glass of cloudy liquid. The smell hit her nostrils, making everyone around her wince.
Sona and her peerage turned pale. Rias took out her phone and began filming, her smile growing even wider.
"Come on, don't be shy! Drink up!" She said with a wink. Enjoying her friend's suffering.
Sona swallowed and took the glass. Her team reluctantly followed suit. The first sip — and Sona staggered, her face turning green, and then she collapsed unconscious. Tsubasa and Tomoe couldn't take it anymore and vomited the contents, and Saji, gritting his teeth, tried to keep his face together, but his eyes filled with tears.
Akeno, watching this, covered her mouth with her hand, holding back her laughter.
"Ara-ara, how evil is our Rias," she sang, her voice shaking with joy.
Rias shrugged, her smile full of triumph.
"They asked for it," she replied, putting the phone away. "Let them know who they're messing with. Besides, Akeno."
Rias turned to Akeno with such a sweet smile, which made Akeno involuntarily gulp and back away, clearly afraid of her, but suddenly her hand was grabbed, and Rias smiled with a sadistic smile and handed her the drink, saying:
"You drink this too, Akeno."